Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I join the Taoiseach and other party leaders in extending my sympathy and that of the Progressive Democrats to the family and friends of the late Tony Gregory, to his partner Annette, his brother Noel, his secretary Valeria and his friends who are with us this morning. Unfortunately I was abroad when he passed away and was therefore unable to attend his funeral. Notwithstanding that we all knew how ill he was, I saw him in this House shortly before Christmas when he attended one Wednesday night during a Private Members' motion and I had a few words with him. While it was clear that he was very unwell, the essence of the man's courage and tenacity was that notwithstanding his serious illness he was still able to contribute so meaningfully to the business of the House.

As an Independent Deputy, clearly it was a challenge for him to be elected for more than a quarter of a century. Indeed it is a challenge for many people who belong to political parties. It must have been a particular challenge in a disadvantaged area for Tony Gregory to continue to be re-elected notwithstanding the competition of people like the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, the late Jim Mitchell and the many other formidable people in that constituency. His election represents the essence of the democratic process that we are all about. Regardless of whether we are elected as members of political parties or as Independents we are here to represent the people who elect us and Tony never forgot that.

Tony Gregory was passionate about the cause of the poor and the disadvantaged, and passionate about education and the Irish language. Above all else my memory of him will be of the very courageous speeches he made here and in his constituency against those involved in illegal drugs. He knew the cancer they were causing to so many young lives that were taken away and to so many families and communities that were destroyed.

Others have referred to his independent streak. When he was first elected to this House, he had a meteoric rise, because of the famous Gregory deal. He proved that politics and the formation of governments is not just an influencing power. It is not just about political alliances, but sometimes mathematics has a lot to do with it. As a single individual he held the balance of power. He came to national prominence as a result of the programme he negotiated with the former Taoiseach, the late Charles Haughey. He also came to prominence because he was the first man to refuse to wear a tie here. At the time there was as much furore caused about that as there was about the agreement he had reached with the then Government.

When Tony Gregory spoke here he was never frivolous. He was never a slave to clichés. He was always very thoughtful and informed, and he made great contributions. He was not somebody I knew well. He was a very private person. I did not have the benefit of ever going on a foreign trip with him. However, I did walk that beach with Deputy Higgins on a different trip.

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